Clocks, Barometers, Sextants, and Telescopes

Inventory ID: 10364

Item Title:

An important telescope Presented by Her Majestys Government to Thomas King, Master of the ship Paragon, 21st October 1862.

Item Description:

The full inscription reads as follows: "Presented by Her Majestys Government to Thomas King, Master of the Smack Paragon, in acknowledgement of his gallant and humane conduct in rescuing four of the crew of the Schooner Thrifty on Oct. 21st, 1862". Records show that the THRIFTY was sailing from Scotland to France when gale force winds drove the vessel into a sandbar, forcing the four man crew and two passengers (wives of the ships' captain and first mate) to take refuge in the rigging. The fishing boat PARAGON spotted the Thrifty and tried repeatedly to rescue the crew, nearly being sunk in the process. Returning the next day, they finally rescued the four men (the wives had succumbed to the waves in the interim), and then returned the following day to recover the bodies. An accounting in the Journal of the National Life Boat Institute cited Paragon's actions as amoung "the most daring and perservering" on record, particularly the repeated and sustained risks to life and equipment of the crew, as well as the ample opportunities for salvage that the multi-day gale created that the crew passed up in order to save the lives of the Thrifty. The nickel-silver mounted single draw telescope is wrapped in brown leather and comes with its' original fitted mahogany carrying case.